Vessels
Australian Navy task group gets underway for Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019
A Royal Australian Navy task group composed of landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra, frigate HMAS Newcastle, and tanker HMAS Sirius, departed Sydney Harbour on February 17 to start a series of exercises and engagements with regional allies. The task group will spend the next several weeks participa
US Navy commissions fifth ship in 50 days
The US Navy’s 15th littoral combat ship – USS Tulsa (LCS 16) – was commissioned as the Navy’s newest surface combatant in a ceremony in San Francisco on February 16. The Independence-variant LCS is the Navy’s second ship to be named for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The ship has progressed from its k
Australia picks Raytheon for Aegis integration on Hunter-class frigates
The Australian defense ministry has selected Raytheon Australia to act as the country’s Aegis systems integration agent. Defense minister Christopher Pyne announced that the ministry issued a limited request for tender to Raytheon to establish a deed of standing offer under which Raytheon Australia
France’s Naval Group officially starting work on Argentine Navy OPV contract
French shipbuilder Naval Group on Thursday announced it is starting work on the Argentine Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPV), thereby officially confirming the four-ship contract with the South American country. As outlined by the shipbuilder, the first patrol boat to be delivered will be the L’Adro
Cobra Gold kicks off in Thailand
The 38th iteration of multi-lateral exercise Cobra Gold kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Akathotsarot Camp, Phitsanulok Province, on February 12. Representatives of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and US Indo-Pacific Command were joined by the ambassadors of Japan and the Republic of Korea and
USS Porter in Spain for repairs after European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
US Navy contracts Boeing to build four Orca XLUUVs
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a $43 million contract for the fabrication, test, and delivery of four Orca extra large unmanned undersea vehicles (XLUUVs) and associated support elements. Boeing’s proposal for the Orca XLUUV was based on its 15-meter Echo Voyager unmanned undersea vehicle. The other
SNMG2 frigates conduct force integration training in Eastern Med
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) are currently underway in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking part in what the NATO Maritime Command describes as advanced Force Integration Training (FIT). The drills are being conducted as part of the group’s patrols in the region. Composed o
Chile likely buyer of remaining two Dutch M-frigates
The Chilean Navy will likely acquire the remaining two Dutch Karel Dorman-class (M-frigates) frigates as they retire from the Royal Netherlands Navy’s service, following the signing of a letter of intent (LoI) between the two sides. The LoI was signed during the visit of Dutch defense procurement or
Littoral combat ship Cincinnati (LCS 20) completes acceptance trials
The US Navy’s future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) concluded acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico on February 8, following a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. Acceptance trials are the last significant mi
German frigate ‘Augsburg’ returns from final deployment
German Navy F122 frigate FGS Augsburg will return to her Wilhelmshaven homeport on Friday, Februrary 15, concluding her final operational deployment. The frigate is one of only two ships in her class and is scheduled to retire this year after 30 years of service. In addition to concluding her final
Sunken WW2 aircraft carrier USS Hornet found in Solomon Islands
The wreck of US Navy’s World War II aircraft carrier USS Hornet was discovered on the floor of the South Pacific Ocean around the Solomon Islands in late January 2019. Hornet was found 5,400 meters (nearly 17,500 feet) below the surface, by the expedition crew of Paul G. Allen’s research vessel (R/V
BAE Systems gets $114.5M for USS Bulkeley modernization
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems a $114.5 million contract for the maintenance and modernization of guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) at its Norfolk shipyard. The value of the competitively awarded contract could reach $136.2 million if all options are exercised.
Former US Pacific Fleet public affairs director sentenced in navy’s never-ending fraud case
A former US Navy director of public affairs for the US Pacific Fleet was sentenced to six months for helping foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis embezzle the US Navy out of millions of dollars. Captain Jeffrey Breslau was sentenced for secretly moonlighting as a paid public relations co